Page:Travels to Discover the Source of the Nile - In the Years 1768, 1769, 1770, 1771, 1772, and 1773 volume 4.djvu/399

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THESOURGEOFTHENILE. 371

fed with furprife to the perfon that fpoke the language, which I had not heard fpoken of late. " She is a poor Chrillian flave, fays the eldefl: of Fidele's wives, taken by the Jehaina when the Mek Baady was defeated in his re- turn to Sennaar ; fhe is a foolilh, but merry creature, as you fee." All our diet and regimen being fettled, I took my leave, and was attended to the door by the Abyffmian flave and Aifcach, who feemed to be very much her friend. When flie came to the outer door, flie covered herfelf again with her veil, from head to foot, as before, faying, in a low voice, Shall we not fee you to-morrow ?

On the 31ft of March, Fidele again infilled upon under- going another experiment of the ipecacuanha. I waited up- on him at the fame hour as before, curious to know what he would fay to me about his wives. Upon my inquiring after them, he only anfwered, that they were well ; and when cofl'ee was brought, before I went away, told me, that he knew perfedly well, from Ras el Feel, that, when I fet out from thence, I had difpofed, in various boxes and chefls, (which I pretended were inilruments) 2000 ounces of gold, befides variety of cloth of gold, and other valuable things for prefents ; and as all this was now in his power, he could not tliink me mad enough to refufe him 500 piaf- tres, which were only 50 of thefe ounces I carried with me ; that, if I gave them to him civilly, he would forward me to Sennaar in tv/o days ; if not, Fwas in his hands, and he could eafiiy take the whole by force, and after difpofe of me as he plea fed.

Well done ! out with it ! fard I ; this is but what I knew long to be in your heart. But let me fet you right ; 1 have

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